Helpers and Servers

Tucked away in the 16th chapter of Romans is a word about a Christ-follower who exercised her spiritual gift of helping and serving. Her name was Phoebe and this is what Paul wrote about her:

Romans 16:1-2 "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church of Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people."

Have you ever wondered how Paul's epistles were delivered to the churches to which he was writing? In a pre-internet, pre-FedEx world, Paul ran his own personal delivery service. He would write a letter and then ask a trusted friend to deliver it for him.

That's what Phoebe did here. She traveled from Corinth to Rome with the Epistle to the Romans rolled up in her purse.  Without Paul, there would be no letter. But without Phoebe, the church would never have received it.

This is the only place in the New Testament that Phoebe is mentioned. All we know about her is that she helped Paul in Corinth by making the long and dangerous journey to Rome to deliver his letter to the church there. Paul was the leader, but he needed helpers like Phoebe to get the work done.

That's the whole point of the gift of service and helps. Helpers empower others to use their spiritual gifts. Someone else may get the credit, but behind the scenes are the servant-hearted helpers without whom it wouldn’t happen. 

Join us this Sabbath as Tom McSherry continues our series with this important gift!

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Duff